McCurdy Smokehouse Museum

Highly recommend checking out this museum if you're in the area. The gentleman who is giving the tours currently worked here for six years, so he has first hand experience in how the smoking of the herring and sardines was done. Apparently this was the last operating smokehouse in the United States and it closed in the early 90s due to the FDA requiring them to remove the enterals of fish in the beginning of the process, rather than the end, which this was not set up to do. There was also a building that used to be across the river and it floated away during a high tide. Another building that was attached to the current museum was also lost a few years ago during a bad winter storm. They are currently trying to raise money to lift up the buildings several feet higher, as two of them flood as much as a foot of water during extreme high tides, so they are also at risk of collapse or floating away. Inside you'll find posters with information on how the mackerel were caught, strung onto rods for smoking, smoked (for two months!), then taken down for processing and packaging. There used to be smokers and canneries all over Maine, but this is a one of a kind now, despite being a booming industry for so long. Still smells like fish now, and it was 10x stronger back in the day. Imagine how it was in the 30s when there were multiple smokers and canneries running! Highly recommend checking out this cute little piece of history if you're in the area to learn a lot more about Maine's history, as well as support their effort in saving these buildings.

I’m always up for a historical tour and the museum definitely did that. You’ll watch a short film about its history then you’re free to roam the building. The man who was there the day I went was very friendly and let me ask a gazillion questions. After that we chatted for quite a while about all kinds of stuff. I’d go back for sure if we were in Lubec again.

McCurdy represents a part of Lubec’s maritime history. Lubec had a significant role in producing canned sardines. The Smokehouse was part of the process to smoke the fish. According to the tour, they used rods as part of the smoking process. In the day there was also a brining shed.

Very nice small museum capturing the now gone herring smoking industry that once thrived in Lubec. Museum is located in the last of the facilities in Lubec (and the USA) and yes, it still has that distinct fishy smell! The gentleman on duty when we visited was so kind and informative. He walked us through the entire process and history, including its demise in the 1990s. Only $4 adult less a $1 discount if you have AAA. Well worth the time if you are stopping in Lubec or visiting Campobello Island.

Found this very interesting given an entire way of life had disappeared in this town. My tour guide was soooo cool, forget his name but he made the visit for me. I come from a fishing family and listening to him reminded me of my great uncles and their tales of the "old days".

The tour was a great introduction to a very important slice of Lubec history. Highly recommended!

A wonderful woman told me the history of this place. Such a special gem to the town of Lubec.

The guide was informative and gave you space if you wanted it. It’s small but an important part of history in the town of Lubec and honestly our country. A good hour or so to appreciate and capture the details. An appreciation for hard work. Very much worth it and short video was good too. Only $4 pp, great deal. Recommend.